Locking mechanism for car-doors



- I. F. RALEY AND L D. MITCHELL LOCKING MECHANISM FOR CAR DOORS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26 I919. r

- PatentedMar. $IL1920I 2 SHEETS--SHEET I.

' masses.

EDEN BAILEY AND J'AlSPER DAVID MITCHELL, F LIERIDIAN, .MISISSIPPI.

LOCKIlNG MECHANISM FOR CAR-DOORS.

Specification of Iietters Patent. Patented lllar. 30, 1920.

Application filed April 26, 1319. Serial No. 292,905.

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that We, JOHN FRANK. BALE-Y and JAsrnr. DAVID MITCHELL, citizens of the United States, residing at Meridian, in the county of Lauderdale and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lockin Mechanism for Car-Doors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to the art of car doors and more particularly to an improved locking mechanism therefor, and it is the aim of the invention to provide a locking mechanism including sliding bolts or members, and means for operating the same, whereby the noses of such sliding bolts or members may engage and disengage keeper eyes near the opposite side edges of the door, to hold the door securely locked, when in closed position.

A further and most important object of the invention is the provision of a locking mechanism of this general character so disposed, preferably diagonally of the door, so as to lock the door when closed, and at the same time brace or reinforce the door, whether closed or open, but preferably when closed and looked.

A further object of the invention is the provision of guide members, arranged diagonally relatively to the sliding bolts or members, so that when said members or bolts are thrown in'locked positions in the keeper eyes, they are efi'ectwely braced or reinforced, thereby relieving the strain on the pivot pins of the sliding bolts, which pivot pins connect the bolts pivotally to a revoluble bolt actuating member.

Slidably movable bolts have been heretofore used, but in vertical positions on the door, some have been used in horizontal positions on the door, but in the latter use special means hat. been employed to engage suitable keepers. "Therefore, by providing diagonally arranged slidable bolts, it is the aim to attain a double bracing eflect on the door, namely the bracing or reinforcing effect that may be attained by the vertical and horizontal bolts, and at the same time eliminating the employment of special means, that would be utilized on such horizontal bolts, for cooperation with keepers. In other words, the heretofore used vertical bolts would only brace a portion of the door, namely that portion immediately adjacent the bolts,-whereas in the present device a diagonal transverse bracing efi'ect 1s attained, and which afi'ords as much reinforcement for the door, as would be available by horizontal bolts, and at the same time elimi-' nate such s eoially provided devices to enga e suitabl e keepers. I

he invention further aims to attain a very efficient bracin locking effect of the bolts, owing to the dlagonal arrangement of said bolts, that is, when their noses are received in their keepers.

The invention further aims to provide means for locking the hasp of the bolt and actuating member, to prevent accidental manipulation of such member, and at the same time prevent unauthorized meddling with the member, in an attempt to actuate the bolts.

While the design and construction at present illustrated and set forth is deemed preferable, it is obvious that as" a result of a reduction of the invention to a more practical form for commercial purposes, the in vention may be susceptible to changes, and the right to these changes is claimed, provided they are comprehended within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features andcombination of parts, as will be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

in the drawings:

"igure 1 is a view in side elevation of a portion of a car, showing the door; thereof closed and locke vFig; 2 is a view in side elevation showing the locking mechanism unlocked,and yet the door is closed in full lines, and shown open in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view in side elevation of a portion of the door, showing the locking mechanism locked, and illustrated on an enlarged scale, and also showing the bolts in dotted lines as having been moved, and illustrating the metallic strap guiding and bracingmeans for the bolts in section.

Fig, 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1. p

Referring moreespeoially to the drawings.

1 designates a guide rod, which is mounted on a car body 2 near the top thereof, and mounted in a position above the door opening 3. A suitable housing 4 is mounted on the car, to house the guide rod. Near the oppositeends of the housing, and extending downwardly on the outer face of the car eyes.

body is a pair of cleats 5 and 6 acting as abutinents. A conventional form of car door 7 is provided, and secured by bolts 8 to the upper part of the door 7 is a pair of straps 9, the upper ends of which are turned to form eyes 10, through which the guide rod passes. This guide rod is secured by bolts 11 to the side of the car.

Secured b screw bolts 12 substantially to the center 0 the door 7 is abearing or wear plate 13, which is provided with a stud 14. A rotatable plate or disk 15 is mounted upon the stud, there being a washer 16 between the rotatable plate or disk and the wear or bearing plate 13. The outer end of the stud is threaded and is engaged by a' nut 17, between which and the rotatable late or disk a washer 18 is interposed. T is rotatable plate or disk is provided with a lateral arm 19,-through which a pivot pin 20'extends. This pivot pin is headed at both ends as indicated at 21. A has 22 has one end bifurcated, and the arms {adjoining the bifurcation of the has are turned into eyes 23, through which t e headed pivot pin extends, said eyes being interposed between the arm of the disk or plate 15, and the heads of the pivot pin. This has 22 has an elongated slot 25. Upper and lbwer diagonally positioned keeper eyes 26 and 27 are arranged near the upper and lower parts of the door opening. ocking bolts 28 are provided and have their adjacent ends pivoted at 29 to the revoluble disk or late 15, and these bolts are guided through t 10 guide strap bearing 30, arran ed in diagonal positions to each other and a j acent the top and bottom of the door and also near the opposite vertical edges oi the door. These bracing bearing straps are arranged diagonally relatively tothe bolts, and not only constitute means for bracing and reinforcin the bolts when locked, but also act as ui es for the bolts, whereby the noses 31 o the bolts may enter the keeper These bearing straps for the bolts each consist of a plate 32 and a strap 83 whichis secured to the plate 32 by means 0' the bolts 34. This bracing stra) arches or straddles the end portion of a sliding bolt, to uide the bolts during their movements, and are diagonally disposed relatively to the bolt, so that when the bolt is moved and its nose in engagement with a keeper eye, the bolt is firmly braced or reinforced. The diagonal position of each of the bearing straps is such, relatively to the bolt, so that when the bolt is drawn from engagement with its keeper eye, this bracing or reinforcing (which is due to the binding of the bolt diagonally with the opposite edges with the strap) of the bolt is overcome or relieved. In other words, the more the bolt is withdrawn from thekeeper eye, the more the 'reinforcing or bracing is relieved, due to the fact that the bolt as it is being withdrawn from its keeper eye has its diagonal opposite portions gradualy disengaging from the sharp diagonally positioned edges of the arching strap. It is to be noted that by positionin the sliding bolts as shown, that is diagonaily, the door is doubly braced or reinforced, that is approaching the vertical as well as the horizontal, namely in a line intermediate the vertical and the horizontal, thereby attaining the most important object of the invention. A T-shaped plate 34 is secured to the lower portion of the door, and the lateral arm of this T-shaped plate is provided with an eye 35. The lateral arm having the eye passes through the slot 25 of the hasp, when it is lowered, there bei'v a hook 36 (which is connected to theT- shaped plate by means of a chain 37) to engage the eye of the lateral arm of the T- shaped plate, to hold the hasp connected to the arm. The hook 36 is provided with a pair of eyes 38, to receive the wire of the usual seal 39, the seal when it is broken by unauthorized parties, will disclose the fact that the door has been tampered with. It is to be noted that the lower keeper eye for the lower nose of one of the bolts forms an integral part of an angle plate 40, which is secured at 41 tothe lower portion of the side of the car. This angle plate constitutes a support to be engaged by the lower ed oof the door, and also acts as a guide. Tie angle plate has an upstanding ear 42, which overies the lower part of the door and prevents the lower portion of the door rom swinging outwardly. A second angle plate 43 is secured at 44 to the lower part of the side of the car and has an extension 45, .also overlying the lower portion of the door, acting as an extra precaution to prevent the lower part of the, door from swinging outwardly.

t is to be noted that the noses of the sliding bolts engage the keeper eyes, and when in such engagement the door is bracededgewise in a transverse direction. The nose of the lower sliding bolt is curved downwardly,

curvature of the nose of the lower sliding -in order to enter the lower keeper eye. This 1 bolt is of such a character so thatthe nose will act as an abutment while in en agement with the lower keeper eye, thereb racing the door sufficiently to withstand any pressure that may be applied to the door in an attempt to open the same. When the door is closed, one edge contacts with one of the vertical cleats of the side of the car adjacent the door opening, and when the door is opened, its opposite edge contacts with the other cleat, limiting the door in its movement in the opposite direction. The plates or hangers at the upper portion of the door act as means to support the door, and guide the same when being opened and closed.

Secured by screws or the like to the elect 5 is a plate 50 overlying the edge of the door,

acting as an additional retainer tor the loot tom portion of the door and also as a protector.

The invention having been set forth, What is claimed as new and useful is:

l. The combination with acar having a door opening, of a slidable car door for closing the opening, keeper eyes positioned diagonally opposite each other, one adjacent the upper part of one of the jambs of the door enin the other ositioned ad'a-' ea l cent the sill of the door opening, a partially revoluble movable disk mounted on the door substantially centrally thereof bolts having their adjacent ends pivoted to said disk at diametrically opposite points and arranged diagonally across the door, guides for said bolts, said guide being arranged angnlarly relatively to the bolts for the reception of the bolts, said guides having; diagonal opposite corner edges, with which the bolts have biting actions, when the noses of the bolts freely ei'igage the keeper eyes, thereby reinforcing the bolts and relieving the strain upon the pivotal connections between the bolts and the disk, and means for partially rocking the disk to cause the nosesof the bolts to enter the keeper eyes.

2. The combination with a car body provided with a door opening and a sliding door for closin the opening, of keeper eyes being diagonally positioned, one near the upper part of the vertical jarnb of the door opening, the other adjacent the sill of the door opening, bolts arranged diagonally across the door in alinement with the keeper eyes, and being movable toward and from each other, so that their'noses will enter the keeper eyes, and means carried by the door for s0 moving said bolts, and means arranged diagonally relatively to the bolts,

for receiving the bolts, said last mentioned means having diagonal opposite corner edges, with which the bolts have biting actions, when their noses l'nlly enter the keeper eyes, thereby reinforcing the bolts.

3. The combination with a car body provided with a door. opening and a sliding door for closing the opening, of keeper eyes being diagonally positioned, one near the upper part of the vertical janlb of door opening, the other adjacent the sill oi the door opening, bolts arranged diagonally across the door in alinement with the keeper eyes, and being movable toward and from each other, so that their noses will enter the keeper eyes, means carried by the door for so moving said bolts, said means comprising a bearing; plate secured centrally of the door and having a stud, a disk plate partially rotatable on the stud, and to which the adjacent ends of the bolts are pivotally connected, an arm carried by the disk, and a hasp pivoted to the arm of the disk whereby the disk may be operated, said hasp constituting means to be locked to prevent movement of the disk,

4. The combination. car body provided with a door openiz and a sliding door for closing the opening, of keeper eyes being diagonally positioned, one near the upper part of the vertical jamb of the door opening, the other adjacent the sill of the door opening, bolts arranged diagonally across the door in alinenient with the keeper eyes, and being movable toward and from each other, so that their noses will enter the keeper eyes, means carried by the door for so moving said bolts, and means arranged diagonally relatively to the bolts, for guiding the bolts when moved, and reinforcing or bracing the bolts when their noses are in engagement with the keeper eyes, said last named means comprising plates secured to the door diagonally relatively to the bolts, straps secured to the diagonally arraiiged plates and having arching portions through which the bolts slidably pass, certain diago nal opposite corner edges of the arches of the straps acting as means with which the bolts have biting actions for reinforcing and bracing the bolts.

5. The combination with a car body pro vided with a door opening and a sliding door for closing the opening, of keeper eyes being diagonally positioned, one near the upper part of the vertical janib of the door opening, the other adjacent the sill of the door opening, bolts arranged diagonally across the door in alinement with the keeper eyes, and being movable toward and from each other, so that their noses will enter the keeper eyes, means carried by the door for so moving said bolts, said means comprising a bearin plate secured centrally of the door'a'nd having" a stud, a disk plate pan tially rotatable on the'stud, and to which the adjacent ends of the bolts are pivotally connected, an arm carried by the disk, and a hasp pivoted to the arm of the disk where-- by the disk may be operated, said hasp constituting means to be locked to prevent movement of the disk, plates secured to the door diagonally relatively to the bolts, straps secured to said diagonal plates and having arching portions through which the bolts slidably pass, certain diagonal opposite oorner edges of the straps constituting means with which the bolts have biting actions when the ends of the bolts enter the keeper eyes for bracing and reinforcing the belts in testimony whereof we hereunto allix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN FRANK, RALEY, Jiz-KSPER DAVID lvllTClI-IELL. Witnesses (liars Gieansrnorf, bl. C. hanoeerna, 

